Foodstuffs: You'll be serenaded at annual madrigal dinner

News and notes from Iowa's culinary scene

Dec. 3, 2013

The head table at the 2011 ISU Madrigal Dinner featured the Iowa State Singers and Don Simonson, center, who portrayed King James I. The annual event will be held on Jan. 17 and 18. Tickets are $40 per person. / Sam Wormley/Special to the Register

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Foodstuffs: American Food Quest comes to town, ISU...: A new Iowa-based web series will be filming in Des Moines. Jennifer Miller has all the details in Wednesday's food section plus a look at ISU's Madrigal Dinner and more.

Pans of mac 'n' cheese from the Cheese Shop can be ordered ahead of time for holiday take-out. / Register file photo

Sean Wilson

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Along about Jan. 17, you’re going to be recovered from the holidays and ready for a whole new round of merriment — merrie olde England style. The 49th annual ISU Madrigal Dinners, featuring the Iowa State Singers, Musica Antiqua, the Music Men and the Orchesis II Dancers are happening on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17-18. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union.

Highlights of the evening include all sorts of ye olde goode stuffe. Of course there is the “feaste,” featuring wassail and even some pease porridge — basically olde Englishe talke for pea soup. You’ll also get plum pudding, which believe it or not, me deare olde mum used to make every year; despite it’s completely misleading name, it’s delicious — especially if you don’t watch the suet going into the mix.

A boar’s head (yay!), the great wassail bowl and the flaming pudding will all make a grand entrance, parading through the Great Hall. Naturally, there’s plenty of music, which is kind of the idea behind the whole party. The members of the Iowa State Singers will sing and strolling minstrels will wander the Great Hall, and naturally, they wouldn’t forget ye olde obligatory trumpet fanfare. All performers are fully costumed in late-16th-century regalia.

And if you’re shy, I recommend a seat at the back (or bringing a flask just in case the wassail is family friendly) because a “light-hearted play,” prepared by members of the choir, will involve members of the audience. Tickets are $40 per person and are on sale through the Memorial Union ticket office (515-294-8349) and from Midwestix. For more information, go to www.music.iastate.edu/events/MadrigalDinners.

Blue Tomato gets nod

Chef David Baruthio has finally settled on a name for his new restaurant at 63rd and Grand: Blue Tomato. Don’t waste your time trying to suss some deep meaning out of it: Blue is the chef’s favorite color and the tomato his favorite vegetable (yeah, yeah, it’s a fruit; whatever ...) — it’s as simple as that. As it turns out though, there is actually such a thing as a blue tomato and Sunstead Farms (that’s Neil and Khanh Hamilton’s farm in Waukee) will be growing them for the restaurant. They’re blue like blueberries are blue, not like Smurfs are blue, and when you cut into them, they’re red. But still, pretty cool. The restaurant will open Jan. 6, and in the meantime, Blue Tomato’s executive chef, Nickolas Illingworth, will be fine-tuning the menu and helping out at Baru 66 and Baru at the Art Center. Anyone want to wager on whether Blue Tomato will open before the Grand Avenue bridge?

Fine-tuning Proof

This week ushered in some changes at Proof. Chef/owner Sean Wilson, with the help of chef Jack Ryan, is taking one more step toward remaking Proof into his own. Wilson stepped into previous owner Carly Groben’s model and, over the last two years, has been inching closer and closer to his dream restaurant. Look for a menu arranged in a la carte sections with various small- and medium-plate options.

The trend Wilson sees is more sharing of food, and he wants to facilitate that among his customers, whom he says seem to pass their meals around for sharing no matter what they order. Prix fixe meals will still be available, but the cost will vary depending on the selected entree. Don’t worry — it’s not a wholesale redo of offerings. Wilson’s creative takes on Mediterranean/North African food will still drive the menu; they’ll just be offered in a different format. So go. Try it. It’s a good thing. 1301 Locust St., 515-244-0655; www.proofrestaurant.com.

Amuse bouches

• More time to buy cheese! The Cheese Shop of Des Moines has expanded its hours from now until the New Year, adding Mondays to its mongering repertoire. The shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. but for retail only, so don’t show up expecting mac ’n’ cheese and a glass of vino. Other holiday hours are: Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The shop is closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Here’s the other thing you should know: The shop has put out a holiday catalog with all kinds of themed meat/cheese trays and boards and other fabulous comestibles, starting at about $40. And they only need 24-hour advance notice. Plus, they cater and you can order pans of that mac ’n’ cheese (that you can’t eat on Mondays) to take home and feed the madding crowds of in-laws and outlaws. They will love you so, so much. So much that they might even replace the empty toilet paper roll. You can pick up a catalog at the shop (833 42nd St.) or look at it online at www.thecheeseshopdsm.com. Call 515-528-8181 if you’ve got questions.

• New World Cafe’s hours have changed and it is no longer open on weekday evenings. The new hours are 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 223 E. Walnut, 515-244-0029; www.newworldcafedsm.com.

• If you’re willing to drive a coupla-three hours to wallow in sausage, then Sausage Saturdays at the German American Heritage Center in Davenport is for you. On two Saturdays (Dec. 7 and 14) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be free samples galore. Dec. 7 features Haun Meats from Bier Stube; on Dec. 14 try the goods from Jerry’s Market of Moline. Plus, you can stock up and fill all your holiday sausage needs. Until Dec. 22, the center will be selling products from Bavaria Sausage Company in Madison, Wis., including peppercorn sausage, venison and beef summer sausage as well as landjager sausage. Bonus shopping: the Christkindlmarkt for “great gifts for the entire family!” 712 W. Second St., Davenport, 563-322-8844; www.gahc.org.